Table protector

ABSTRACT

A table ordinarily suitable for dining outdoors is provided with an upstanding shaft from the horizontal eating surface and pivotally mounted thereon a spaced distance from the horizontal surface of the table are a plurality of elongated arms. The arms carry a flexible sheeting and may be selectively positioned against the upper face of the table in oblique relationship. In this position the protector prevents birds or debris from landing on the table. The elongated arms may be selectively positioned upwardly to allow normal usage of the table.

I United States Patent 1191 1111 3,782,435

Sherman 5] Jan. 1, 1974 TABLE PROTECTOR Primary Examiner--Donald F. Norton [76] Inventor: Ralph H. Sherman, Central St., Atwmey Robert smlth Georgetown, Mass. 221 Filed: June 13, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT A table ordinarily suitable for dining outdoors is pro- [211 Appl' 262348 vided with an upstanding shaft from the horizontal eating surface and pivotally mounted thereon a spaced [52 15, C] 150 52 103 50 135 distance from the horizontal surface of the table are a [51 1111.01 A47b 37/04 plurality of elongated arms The arms eerry a flexible [58] Field of Search 150/52 R; 108/50; sheeting and y be Seleetively positioned against the 135/2 5 E, 1 C, 1 upper face of the table in oblique relationship. In this position the protector prevents birds or debris from [56] References Ci d landing on the table. The elongated arms may be se- UNITED STATES PATENTS lectively positioned upwardly to allow normal usage of 3,490,469 1/1970 Dubinsky ISO/52 R X the table- 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIEU HUM 3 782 435 sum 1 or 2 PATENTED 1 3.782.435

' sum 2 or 2 TABLE PROTECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various means have been employed to protect tables particularly those suitable for picnics or other outdoor eating from debris which may be carried by the winds or by birds. Principally these have taken the form of table cloths which do not serve to prevent birds from landing on the upper surface of the table and often are merely a replacement for the upper surface and require wiping to remove debris just as would the upper surface of the table if left exposed.

The invention is most pertinent to outdoor tables having an upstanding central shaft such as that provided typically for an umbrella. As will be seen from the description following hereafter the invention may be practised by installing an upstanding shaft from any table and the shaft does not have to be positioned at the center of a circular table.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide a novel table protector which prevents debris and birds off the upper horizontal surface thereof.

It is also the object of the invention to provide a table protector which may be readily positioned into a stowed position permitting full use of the table.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a table protector which is inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION horizontal surface of the table, the elongated arms being selectively pivotable between a first position wherein a portion of the elongated arms away from the pivoted end thereof rest on the horiztonal surface and a second position wherein the arms are disposed in parallel relationship to the upstanding shaft.

Flexible sheeting is carried by and between the arms covering the horizontal surface in the second position. The sheeting is suitably dimensioned and configured so as to be taut when the arms are in the first position.

Preferably the arms are disposed upwardly of the means for pivotally carrying one end of the arms in the second position, and includes means for securing the arms in the upward position.

The means for securing the arms in the upward position may include a loop carried by one of the arms of flexible material dimensioned to encircle the arms and the upstanding shaft and having securing means affixed to each end thereof whereby the arms are selectively held in the upward position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view of a table and umbrella set incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sheeting, arms and means for pivoting the arms showing the invention in greater detail;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of the means for pivoting the elongated radially disposed arms in one form of the invention: and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view to a greatly enlarged scale of the table protector showed in FIG. I and a portion of the upstanding shaft illustrating the collapsed upstanding position of the elongated radially disposed arms and a strap for securing the arms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1,2,3 and 4 the invention is most preferably practised in conjunction with a circular table generally designated by the numeral 10, adapted for use outdoors having a plurality of legs 12 provided with suitable bracing 14. An umbrella assembly generally designated by the numeral 15 normally projects upwardly from the upper face 15 of the table 10. More specifically a shaft 18 of the umbrella assembly 15 is carried by an aperture 20 in the table surface 16 and by the bracing l4. Carried on the upstanding shaft 18 in spaced relation from the table surface 16 is a collar assembly 24. Thumb screws 25 engage threads (not shown) in the collar 24 and abut against shaft 18 to prevent relative motion therebetween. Elongated radially extending arms 26 project from the upstanding shaft at selected angular positions. Each arm 26 at one end engages the collar assembly 24 to permit pivotal movement therebetween. In the preferred embodiment the collar assembly 24 incorporates a generally horizontal ring 27 supported by disc 28 fixed to a cylindrical sleeve 30 cooperatively dimensioned for retention on the shaft 18 by the thumb screws 25. The disc 28 is provided with arcuate apertures 29 around each arm 26. It will be seen that in the embodiment shown the downward positional limit of the elongated arms 26 is determined by the interface of the elongated rods 26 and the upper table surface 16. In this embodiment the elongated rods are selectively positionable to an upstanding position parallel to the upstanding shaft 18. In this up ward position the flexible sheeting 32 which normally is circular in shape is folded. The sheeting 32 may be canvas or cloth or most preferably a low coefficient of friction plastic such as a fluorocarbon, nylon, acetal or high density polyethelene.

In the preferred form the arms 26 are collapsed upwardly and inwardly to permit ready access to the upper surface 16 of the table 10. The elongated arms 26 are held by a loop 34 which encircles all the arms and is secured at each end by a snap fastner (not shown). The loop 34 may be made of the same material as sheeting 32 and is secured to one arm 26 by stiching or other suitable means.

As best shown in FIG. 1 the arms 26 may be selectively positioned downwardly against the periphery of the upper surface 16 of table 10 so that the sheeting 32 is positioned obliquely with respect to the upper surface 16. In this angular position birds are prevented from resting over the upper surface 16 not only because of the oblique position and the coefficient of friction of the sheeting 32 if it is made with relatively slippery material. As will be appreciated various alternate means may be used for pivoting of the arms 26 from one position in our equally simple manner and which provides the same ample protection for a table top while being inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the support of the horizontal ring 27 may comprise a planar disc fixed in a horizontal position on the upstanding shaft 18 with spot welds, relatively short struts or various fastners there between to support ring 27. A further advantage of such a construction is to further close off the top of the table from foreign matter. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the means for pivotally carrying one end of the arms 26 including ring 27 has been lowered to provide clearance between the upper ends of arms 26 andan associated umbrella. Ordinarily this is accomplished by means of thumbscrews 25. Moving the protector in this manner is not always desirable although such position in other cases is useful depending upon the distance between the top of the table and the umbrella.

What 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A protector for a table having a generally planar horizontal surface and an upstanding shaft projecting from the horizontal surface which comprises:

a. a plurality of elongated arms,

b. means for pivotally carrying one end of said arms, said means being carried on the upstanding shaft above the horizontal surface of the table, said elongated arms being selectively pivotable between a first position wherein a portion of said elongated arms away from the pivoted end rests on the horizontal surface and a second position wherein said arms are disposed in parallel relationship to the upstanding shaft; and

c. flexible sheeting carried by and between said arms covering the horizontal surface in said second position.

2. The table protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sheeting is suitably dimensioned and configured so that such sheeting is taut when said arms are in said first position.

3. The table protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arms are disposed upwardly of said means for pivotally carrying one end of said arms in said second position.

4. The table protector as set forth in claim 3 further including means for securing said arms in said upward position.

5. The table protector as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for securing said arms in said upward position includes a loop, carried by one of said arms, of flexible material dimensioned to encircle said arms and the upstanding shaft and having securing means affixed to each end thereof whereby said arms are selectively held in said upward position. 

1. A protector for a table having a generally planar horizontal surface and an upstanding shaft projecting from the horizontal surface which comprises: a. a plurality of elongated arms, b. means for pivotally carrying one end of said arms, said means being carried on the upstanding shaft above the horizontal surface of the table, said elongated arms being selectively pivotable between a first position wherein a portion of said elongated arms away from the pivoted end rests on the horizontal surface and a second position wherein said arms are disposed in parallel relationship to the upstanding shaft; and c. flexible sheeting carried by and between said arms covering the horizontal surface in said second position.
 2. The table protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sheeting is suitably dimensioned and configured so that such sheeting is taut when said arms are in said first position.
 3. The table protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arms are disposed upwardly of said means for pivotally carrying one end of said arms in said second position.
 4. The table protector as set forth in claim 3 further including means for securing said arms in said upward position.
 5. The table protector as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for securing said arms in said upward position includes a loop, carried by one of said arms, of flexible material dimensioned to encircle said arms and the upstanding shaft and having securing means affixed to each end thereof whereby said arms are selectively held in said upward position. 